Bucks knock off Celtics
BOSTON -- The surging Milwaukee Bucks knocked the Celtics from the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a hard-fought 103-100 victory over Boston on Wednesday night.
In winning for the 13th time in 16 games, the Bucks, hanging on to a tie for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, ended Boston's six-game home winning streak and handed the Celtics their second loss in their last 16 home games.
The Celtics, who moved into sole possession of first place when the Cavaliers lost at San Antonio on Tuesday night, dropped percentage points behind Cleveland for the conference lead.
Rookie of the Year candidate Malcolm Brogdon scored three baskets -- including a tough jumper with 3.9 seconds left -- and set up two others in the final 2:26 as the Bucks blew an eight-point fourth-quarter lead but evened their season series with Boston at 1-1.
The Celtics, who dropped to 4-1 on their current six-game homestand, had the ball out of bounds with 3.9 seconds left, but Marcus Smart's off-balance heave off a deflected pass wasn't close.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Khris Middleton had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Greg Monroe had 16 points and eight boards and Brogdon 16 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
Isaiah Thomas scored 32 points and broke Antoine Walker's club record of 222 3-pointers in a season. Jae Crowder led four other Celtics in double figures with 13 points, while Avery Bradley posted 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Thomas tied Walker's record with a 3-point bomb on a fast break in the third quarter and then broke it with a heavily contested trey with 4:13 left in the game. It was his 223rd 3-pointer of the season and last of the night.
NOTES: Celtics G Isaiah Thomas became the sixth Celtics player to score 2,000 points in a season. Larry Bird and Paul Pierce both did it four times, John Havlicek twice and Sam Jones and Kevin McHale once each. ... Thomas extended his club record with a 3-pointer in his 50th straight game. ... Guerschon Yabusele, the 16th overall pick in last year's draft, arrived from China and joined the Celtics' Maine Red Claws for their remaining games. ... The Bucks host the Detroit Pistons and the Celtics the Orlando Magic on Friday night.